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Dent Wins 1A State Title

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By KATHERINE SMITH

ksmith@tampatrib.com

Published: November 15, 2008

ORLANDO - Kyle Dent might have early admittance to Cornell University, but he needs to work on his math.

Soon after the Berkeley Prep senior finished his final dive at Friday's Class 1A State Swimming and Diving Championships, Dent shook his head, convinced that if his calculations were right, he didn't do so well.

Dent was right. He didn't do well - he did great, winning the 1A title with a 508.75 score, three points better than second-place finisher Noah Garcia from Pompano Beach.

"I thought I was about sixth place going into the finals, and I had no idea I was first," said Dent, who trained in China this summer. "I was kind of apathetic coming into the last round. I didn't want to let my school down, so I decided to just have fun and see what I can do and hope for the best."

Dent, whose photo happened to grace the cover of this year's state program, passed up a school trip to New York with the drama club. Bummed that he missed the plays and musicals, Dent's spirits picked up when the gold medal was placed around his neck.

"The districts were the key for me," Dent said. "I was hoping for a top-three finish at state and off that 570 at districts I was feeling like a million bucks. That set me up for this."

In the swimming competition, both Bolles boys and girls teams continued their 1A dominance, winning their 21st and 18th consecutive overall titles, respectively.

Clearwater Central Catholic's Cameron Martin won two gold medals, in the 100 butterfly (49.38) and the 100 backstroke (49.76). Both times were good enough for automatic All-America status.

Martin also medaled in two relays, the 200 medley, where CCC finished eighth, and the 200 free, where they were seventh. Martin helped his Clearwater Central Catholic team finish tied for seventh.

Jesuit senior Vinny Donnelly and Tampa Prep senior Grace Fredlake each took home a bronze medal in the 500 freestyle, their second medals of the night. Donnelly (4:27.70) and Fredlake (4:53.83) earned All-America status with their times.

Donnelly also medaled in the 200 freestyle, placing fourth with an automatic All-America time of 1:40.64, and in the 400 free relay, where the Tigers came from behind to finish sixth. Jesuit coach Bill Shaffer told the rest of the relay team to send Donnelly out on a high note, and they did.

"This is the only time I've ever been up on the podium, so it feels good," Donnelly said. "As tough as 1A distance events really are, this is great."

Fredlake medaled again with a fifth place in the 200 individual medley with an automatic All-America time of 2:04.94. She helped her Tampa Prep team finish ninth overall, the highest placement for any of the Bay area girls teams.

"I'm very happy to go out with a bang my senior year," Fredlake said. "To get best times in both events is amazing."

Reporter Katherine Smith can be reached at (813) 731-8025.

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